Electrode for slip-regulators.



G. W. HUEY.

ELECTRODE FOR SLIP REGULAT APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 191

Patnted Dec. 4,1917;

mvzmon LU ATTORNEY toil UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. HUEY, OF WTLKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSEELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING-COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRODE FOB SLIP-REGULATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 191 '7.

Application filed June 18, 1913. Serial No. 774,371.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. HUEY, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of VVilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful improvement in Electrodesfor Slip-Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrodes for slip regulators and it has forits object to provide a device of the above indicated character which issimple in structure and which will improve the operating conditions ofsuch regulators.

in the use of slip regulators, as at present constructed, unsatisfactoryoperating conditions are often encountered because of polarization orthe collection of bubbles of gas upon the electrodes. The area ofcontact surface of the electrodes is thereby decreased, and theresistance of the device is correspondingly increased, rendering thedevice uncertain in its action and preventing uniformity of its effectupon the electrical circuit in which it may be connected. This isespecially true in connection with such electrodes as are so shaped orarranged as to cause bubbles to collect gradually until they coalesceand escape to the surface of the liquid suddenly.

I propose to avoid the above mentioned defects by providing an electrodehaving a structure upon which the bubbles, the formation of which isincident to the operation of such devices, have practically. no tendencyto adhere, while the dispersal of the bubbles is uniform and at a ratecorresponding to their formation.

My invention will be described in detail in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view, partially inelevation and partially in section, of a unit of a slip regulatorembodying my invention. 'Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a regulatorelectrode.

The regulator unit 1 comprises a vessel 2 which contains a suitableliquid or electrolytic solution. The stationary electrode comprises aplate 3 which is located near the bottom of vessel 2, where itiscompletely immersed in the liquid, and which is provided with a terminalthat extends .top edges of said members, and co:

through the base 5 of the vessel 2. The movable electrode comprises aseries of concentric rings 6 which are attached to cross bars 7, and arod 8 upon which the bars 7 are threaded at their respective centers.The rod 8 may be actuated by any suitable means (not shown) to raise andlower the electrode to vary the resistance of the regulator, as desired.

When the regulator is connected in circuit and bubbles form on thevertical surfaces of the several rings 6, they are free to pass at onceto the surface of the liquid, the top of the electrode being practicallyopen. There is no obstruction to this movement of the bubbles as is thecase with electrodes having the form of horizontal plates or grids, thehorizontal surfaces of which are in contact with the water and thusserve to trap the minute bubbles until they accumulate in such largenumber as to coalesce and escape. The result is to secure a unformity ofaction that is not possible with the ordinary construction.

An electrode constructed in accordance with my invention has a verycompact form, presenting a relatively large area of contact surface ascompared with its horizontal dimensions. Owing to the large contactsurface per unit of depth, the adjustment required for changes ofresistance is relatively small.

. Many changes will occur to those skilled in the art to which myinvention appertains, and it is understood that such changes may be madeas fall within the limits of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electrode comprising a plurality of hollow cylindrical contactmembers concentrical'ly arranged in a horizontal plane, a rod having itsaxis coincident with that the contact members, and means for connectingsaid contact members to said rod.

2. An electrode comprising a plurality of hollow conducting members ofdiiierent sizes, each member surrounding t; next smaller size, condu 1 vconnecting relatively smelt. port th i 1 rod having one end joined saidu i 3. An electrode comprising a pin- 13y hollow conducting c linders ofdifferent di- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto amecers, each cyliner surrounding that of subscribed my name this 7 th day of June, thenext smaller size, a relatively narrow 1913.

conducting bar connecting the top edges of GEO. W. HUEY. said cylinders,and a conducting rod extend- Witnesses:

ing substantially parallel to said cylinders R. W. COPELAND,

and secured to said bar. B. B. HINES.

